Republican strategist chastises Obama, wants better candidates

Karl Rove, the big-time Republican strategist and pundit, said the nation is likely to see action this year on an overhaul of immigration laws after years of a partisan standoff that blocked movement.

That was the only bit of optimism voiced by Rove during an hourlong presentation Tuesday before the national convention of Associated Builders and Contractors at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.

Rove delivered a gloomy outlook for the nation's budget, implementation of the health care overhaul law, and prospects for what he said are needed changes in the Social Security and Medicare systems. He placed the blame squarely on President Barack Obama.

"You thought it was bad. It's going to get worse. If you're a teetotaler like me, you're going to be drinking heavily by the end of the day," he said.

A political mastermind who played a pivotal role in George W. Bush's presidential victories, Rove is now a frequent commentator on Fox News, the channel favored by Republicans. Rove is also the founder of American Crossroads, the political group that raised $328 million last year in an attempt to defeat Obama and congressional Democrats.

Associated Builders and Contractors is known as one of the most politically active, and largely Republican, interest groups in the country. Rove told about 300 of its members that they and other Republicans need to do a better job vetting candidates in 2014 and beyond to avoid having the party nominate people who are loved by conservative primary voters but aren't appealing to the broader electorate.

Rove's efforts to launch a new program of vetting candidates have earned him harsh criticism in recent weeks from conservative grassroots activists and members of the tea party — complaints that he brushed off on Tuesday.

He said the tea party would be far better off with an electable Republican than a nominee like Christine O'Donnell, who failed to win a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware in 2010.

Rove said O'Donnell was obviously unelectable, citing her failure to pay her mortgage and student loans. She was also ridiculed when comedian Bill Maher released videos from the 1990s in which she talked about dabbling in witchcraft and opposing masturbation.

"That was a gross example, but we need to do a better job as conservatives and businesspeople and do our homework," he said.

He didn't touch on any Florida topics. He left book signing a few minutes early when the line of autograph seekers ran out, but said he didn't have time to answer any Florida-related questions.